Serving dish



May 10, 1938. P|TTLER 2,117,102

SERVING DISH Filed June 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 1/44 p/ 771 5/?- ATTORNEYS May 10, 1938. PlTTLER 2,117,102

SERVING DISH Filed June 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3/ Fig. /2.

INVENTOR. Z AL 4 p/ 774516.

ATTORNEYS Patented May 10,

' umrao] STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to serving plates and the like and particularly to a dish for serving drinks, confections and the like.

In order to prevent discoloration of furniture and staining of garments by moisture dripping from a beverage glass, it is common to use coasters, mats, sandals or napkins on which the glass is placed. These coasters, etc., are usually of relatively heavy, hard, expensive or frangible material. such as glass or metal, and generally may be used for only one type of glass. Furthermore, these coasters as a rule do not provide a stable support, particularly for stem glasses which easily tip over.

The main object of the invention is to provide a serving dish of simple and economic construction which is suitable for holding tumblers, goblets or other drinking vessels, as well as con fections, salads, etc., in addition to its original purpose as a plate.

Another object is to provide a. serving plate or coaster plate which may be easily stacked or packed without taking any more room than the ordinary plates.

Still a further object is to provide a serving plate or a coaster plate which will provide a firm support for the glass, so that it cannot be readily tipped.

The main feature of the invention is a collapsible holder or socket on a plate and the low cost of manufacture and attractiveness combined with extreme simplicity of construction are its principal advantages.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification proceeds and when considered in combination with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment together with possible modifications of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a serving plate according to the invention holding an ordinary drinking glass.

' Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plate with the glass removed from the socket.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the socket in collapsed condition.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modification.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the modification shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section along line l-I of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a cross-section similar to that of Figure 7 but showing the parts forming the socket cut out from the bottom of the plate, and a separate bottom attached to the plate.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another modification illustrating a diflerent manner of collapsing the socket.

Figure 10 shows the socket of Figure 9 in collapsed condition.

Figure 11 is another modification. 10

Figure 12 is a developed view of the socket in Figure 11.

Throughout the drawings, similar reference numerals are used to indicate the same or corresponding parts. Reference numeral indi- 15 cates a plate or a dish which is preferably made of absorbent material, such as cardboard or blotting paper, on the central portion of which a socket or holder 2| is superimposed, retaining glass 22.

The socket 2| is preferably made of thinner material than the plate 20, such as paper, in order that it may be folded fiat with the bottom of the plate as shown in Figure 2. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the socket is made from a strip of paper. This strip is notched at the bottom to provide a flange for attachment to the plate. The notching depends of course, on the form that one desires to give to the socket. Thus, it may be notched to form a circular socket, an octagonal socket, hexagonal socket etc. The strip may be attached by gluing or stapling it to the plate.

The upstanding wall 23 of the socket is folded according to any design desired or the one most practical for ready use. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 which show an octagonal socket, each corner edge 24 is folded over towards the left. To raise the socket it is necessary merely to raise one of the sides, and the others will follow automatically due to the resiliency of the paper.

The socket illustrated in the modification shown in Figure 5 is constructed from a piece of cardboard 25 or similar material from which a square has been cut out making fiaps 26. Although the drawings show only a square it is obvious that any geometric figure may be cut out. The square, however, is believed to be the silient resistance to the raising of the flaps so that it will grip the glass.

In the modification shown in Figure 8, the flaps 26 are cut out from the bottom of the plate itself and this is then re-inforced by another bottom plate 21.

The socket illustrated in Figure 9 is similar to that of Figure 1 with the exception that it is folded like an accordion and the bottom flanges are turned outward instead of inward. Although the drawings show only an octagonal socket, it is obvious that any geometric cross section may be used, the folding being in the same manner.

In the modification shown in Figure 11, the socket is made from a blank as illustrated in Figure 12. This blank is attached to the plate in its developed condition by gluing or otherwise fastening the base 28 to the bottom. The base 28 is provided with two tangential side members 29 and 30. Each side member is provided with a tongue or a hook 3| at the opposite ends and at the other end with a slot 32. The socket is formed by raising the side members 29 and 30 and inserting the hooks 3| into the slots 32.

It is obvious that other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the appended claim is intended to cover all such changes and modifications as are included within its'true scope.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a plate of a collapsible receptacle for holding glasses, confections and the like mounted on said plate, said receptacle comprising a flange permanently attached to said plate and a wall which in normal use is substantially vertical. the base of the plate serving as the bottom of said receptacle, said wall being of polygonal shape, the corners of which are adapted to be folded over the sides whereby said wall may be folded substantially flush with said plate when in unused condition.

LILA PI'I'I'LER. 

